along for the ride

As work weeks stretch longer and longer - the 40-hour work week has become a bittersweet watercooler joke - those precious vacation days become as coveted as a new sled. But if you have ever planned a vacation trip, let alone a snowmobiling vacation, you know that travel details can become nearly as exasperating as your job.

Once you've settled on a destination, consider the potential hassles: where can you get rental sleds?, what about a reputable guide?, which motels are near the trails?, what about gas stops?, do we need permits or out-state registration?

Wait a minute. This is supposed to be fun, remember? If this all sounds like too much work, it's time to call a guide, a professional tour operator.

There are a growing number of tour companies throughout the snowbelt that specialize in planning and hosting hands-free snowmobile tour packages. With a small amount of research (including talking to people who have been on a tour) and a couple phone calls, you can find one that fits your needs, and you're as good as there.

Whether you are interested in an introductory, half-day ride or a seven-day snowmobile safari in Finland, there is a tour operator who can make it happen.

Snowmobilers, many of them veteran riders, turn to tour operators every year. Their reasons range from wanting to learn how to snowmobile to just wanting to be pampered. "One of the biggest reasons people come to us is to remove all the unknowns," says Audrey Decker of Decker's Sno-Venture Tours in Wisconsin. "If you pack your own saddle bags and ride on your own, you may find that the gas station you stopped at last year has been closed for eight months, or the motel you were going to stay at is full."

Tour operators also know the territory. "Tours are a great way to
experience the back country,"says Mark Schaede of Revelstoke Snowmobile Tours in British Columbia. "It gives people a reason to be excited about being outdoors in the winter."

Tour operators spend considerable time researching and coordinating each of their tours, some for as long as a full year. "I'm working on putting together a 12-day tour in Quebec for next winter," said Wayne Derby of Snow Leopard Snow Tours in New Hampshire.

By the time the actual tour takes place, everything is set and there should be no problems. The local guides who ride with the groups know where gas stations are located and plan stops so that nobody trudges home with the gas can.

But there's more to a tour than leaving the details to someone else. There's the inevitable friendships that spring up between tour members. "People like to take a group tour because they meet other people who are out there for the very same reason that they are: to ride snowmobiles," says Rog Matthews, of Sno-World Snow Tours in Michigan. "A lot of camaraderie is developed among people who didn't know each other before the trip. They share stories about where they've ridden and what they've done on a snowmobile. They are good people out to have a good time with other good people."

And, many of those friendships last long after the tour. "I've heard of people from different states who will get on the phone as soon as the schedules are released to plan which one they will go on," said Decker.

Tour packages offer different things to different people, from teaching the novice basic lake-riding skills to taking experienced riders out on the Nelchina Glacier in Alaska. "Eighty percent of my clients are new to the sport," said Armand Buteau of Pathfinder Sno-Tours in Massachusetts. "Before they get here, I send my new riders general information about snowmobile safety, some safety information and four pages about the Pittsburgh area. Once they arrive, we take them out and familiarize them with the performance of the machines, then we go out onto a lake to play 'follow the leader.' There's nothing to run into out there, so people can just work on their riding skills. By the time we hit the trail, the group is pretty much ready for a day of fun."

Decker says, "The largest share of our clients are experienced riders who want to try a new area." Last spring, Decker's Sno-Venture Tours led a group on a ride in Finland (see story on page 104 for a first-hand account), and she says that plans are in the works for another trip to Finland and one to Russia next spring.

"Another great advantage to using a planned tour," adds Sheryl
Peterschmidt of Jackson Hole Tours in Wyoming, "is that you get to
experience the history and geology that you wouldn't get if you were on your own."

Although most of the tour planning happens at the operator's end, riders still have some research to do on their own - choosing the right tour company and the right tour, for instance. Your choice should be based on your experience level (although tour operators will often separate riders into groups of similar riding ability once you arrive); the number of people in your party (obviously, a smaller group can cover more territory); and your interests
(do you want to rack up miles or set a more relaxed pace?).

According to the operators American Snowmobiler spoke with, the best way to choose a tour company is to talk with people who have taken a tour. Find out about the specifics of the trip. Ask if the rides started on schedule, if the guides were helpful and friendly and if there were any hidden costs.

"The proof is in the pudding," says Decker. "People should call for references. Unfortunately, what hurts us the most, as good tour operators, are those marginal operators looking to make a buck."

Dick Squires of International Snowmobile Tours in Indiana, adds that just because people ride snowmobiles doesn't mean that they are good tour operators.

You should look for an operator who is interested in what you have to say. "I like to talk with clients before the tour," says Buteau. "I want to identify their needs, whether they are into photography or riding to cover as many miles as possible."

Cost depends on what you want the company to cover. Some tours are all-inclusive, which usually means everything - guides, rental sleds, clothing, lodging, meals - aside from gas, souvenirs and adult beverages are included. Most tour companies can coordinate anything you might need, from mittens to machines.
(Several companies also travel with backup sleds and support trailers, which is especially crucial if you have limited vacation time.) You should plan on spending anywhere from $40 for a half-day excursion to about $1,600 for a 10 to 12-day tour, which includes machine, gear, meals and lodging. Before you arrive at the starting point, each operator should clarify, in writing, exactly what is covered by the fee, and what you will need to pay for on the trail. For example, some companies include a first tank of gas each day, but the rest is up to you.

For someone who has never sat on a snowmobile before, the packing list is very simple: long underwear, layers of clothes, and an open mind and a willing attitude to have a good time. The rest of your gear can be rented, which is great for the first-timer because the operators will be able to help determine exactly what you will need to weather the specific conditions of your tour. Don't let the snow and ice fool you, though, staying warm is hardly a problem on the trail. "Almost 85 percent of my clients
say that they packed too much clothing," says Matthews, whose clientele consists primarily of retirees from the sunbelt.

"I had a family group of 11 adults and seven kids from Massachusetts on a tour once when it stayed around minus 22 degrees," says Buteau. "They had a great time."

As you read this, the sun is high and so is the lawn, but now is the time to start looking for that perfect tour package. Most tour companies will have their brochures out soon. These will list the preset tour packages, though many offer custom tour services. The reservation timetable for the tours will vary from company to company, though most operators prefer at least a month's notice. Custom tours require more time to plan, usually
two to three months (see timeline on page 107).

So, as the mosquitoes buzz in your ears and the sun scorches your back, start thinking about blasting through snow drifts and making new friends. This is the best time of year to plan your winter getaway. An hour of phone calls now could easily turn into your most memorable week of snowmobiling. AS

TIMELINE

NOW

While you're basking in the sun, it's time to decide: Where do you want to go? When? How many people will be going?

Begin calling companies for tour information.

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

Contact three or four operators. Give them the details of what you want, and let them tell you what they offer. Now, sleep on it for a few days.

Make your decision, and book the tour. Remember that popular weekends fill early.

If transportation to the destination is not included, make those arrangements now.

NOVEMBER

Relax, your tour is all set.

Two weeks before the tour

Most operators will have sent out information by this time about safety, your specific destination and a suggested packing list.

Confirm your reservation. Ask any questions on your mind (the trail is not a good place for revelations).

Start packing and get psyched for the time of your life!


TOUR OPERATORS

Decker's Sno-Venture Tours

Eagle River, WI

715/479-2764

International Snowmobile Tours

Chesterfield, IN

317/378-5074 · 800/378-8687

Jackson Hole Snowmobile Tours

Jackson Hole, WY

307/733-6850

Montana High Country Tours

Dillon, MT

406/683-4920

Old Forge Sports Tours

Old Forge, NY

315/369-3796

Pathfinder Sno-Tours

Leominster, MA

508/534-7933

Revelstoke Snowmobile Tours

Revelstoke, BC

604/837-5200


Rocky Mountain Snowmobile Tours

Jackson Hole, WY

307/733-2237


Snow Leopard Snow Tours

Bethlehem, NH

603/869-2634

Sno-World Snow Tours

Ada, MI

616/676-0397

Yellowstone Adventures

West Yellowstone, MT

800/231-5991

Yellowstone Tour & Travel

West Yellowstone, MT

406/646-9310